Teenage brains 'not wired for high stakes'

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During the teenage years, there are important changes going on inside the brain

Brain immaturity during adolescence could explain why some teenagers fail to respond to incentives such as cash rewards.

Adults are good at putting maximum mental effort into the things that matter most.

But, brain circuits are still developing in teenagers, making it harder for them to tackle meeting their goals, say US psychologists.

Attempts to improve student grades with money have had mixed success.

The research, published in the journal, Nature Communications, shows that brain connectivity continues to develop throughout adolescence, affecting teenagers’ ability to perform when the stakes are high.